Air compressor



G. F. WOLFE.

AIR COMPRESSOR AND REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4, I919.

Patented June 8, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

G. F. WOLFE.

AIR COMPRESSOR AND REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4. 1919.

1,342,487. Patented June 8, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wnmsvmmwnmm UNITED STATES GUY F, WOLFE, OF FREDERICK, MARYLAND.

AIR COMPRESSOR ANT) REGULATOR.

Application filed October 4, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUY F. WoLrE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Frederick, in the county of Frederick and State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Air Compressors and Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1n air compressors and the princlpal ob ect of the invention is to provide automatic means for stopping the operation of the compressor when the pressure 1n the air receiver reaches a predetermined po nt.

Another object of the invention 1s to provide means for adjusting the device so that it will cease to operate at any desired pressure and alSO provide means for permitting the escape of any air in excess of the amount desired in the receiver.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for detaching the compressor from its actuating means when the pressure in the receiver reaches the desired point.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims. 7

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanylng drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view taken a quarter turn from Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views.

In these views 1 indicates the cylinder of the compressor and 2 indicates the piston thereof which is provided with the rod 3, A shaft 4 is journaled in the lower end of the cylinder and carries an eccentric 5 which is engaged by the collar 6 carried by the rod 3.

This shaft is provided with bushings 7 which are located in the tubular projections 1 formed on the cylinder and the shaft also carries a collar 8 which is located between the eccentric and one of the bushings. A thrust plate 9 covers the end of one of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8: 1920.

Serial No. 328.423.

projections 1. The shaft passes through the other projection and has its ends slotted to receive a key 10. The projecting end of the shaft loosely carries a sprocket wheel 11 which has its hub at the front notched as at 12 to engage said key 10. The rear part of the hub is provided with an annular groove 13 which receives a collar 14 rotatably mounted therein and which is provided with the pins 15 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The upper end of the cylinder is provided 12 the piston will be reciprocated in the cylinder so as to compress the air therein and force it through the pipe line 18 into the receiver.

. The means for automatically releasing the compressor from its driving means comprises the following arrangement of parts:

A lever 19 is pivoted intermediate its end to a projection 20 carried by the cylinder. The lower end of this lever is forked and the ends of the forks are provided with elongated openings 21 which are engaged by the pins 15. A spring 22 connects said lever with the cylinder and tends to hold said lever in a position with the hub of the sprocket wheelout of engagement with the key 10 so that said wheel will rotate on the shaft freely without rotating the shaft. The upper end of the lever is pivoted to a latch bar 23 which extends across the upper end of the cylinder and has its latch end engaging a keeper plate 24 which is carried by the cylinder. It will be seen that when the latch bar 23 is in engagement with the keeper plate the lever 23 will be rocked to move the sprocket wheel into engagement with the key on the shaft and the spring 22 will be expanded. As soon as the latch bar is raised said spring will return the parts to inoperative position with the sprocket wheel running free on the shaft.

The means for raising said latch bar comprises a valve casing 25 connected with the pipe line 18 by the coupling 26. This casing is provided with holes 27 and its upper end is screw threaded to receive the screw threaded plug 28. The lower part of the casing below the openings 27, is formed with a valve seat 29 and with a shoulder 30. The valve member 31 is provided with a beveled part 32 to engage the valve seat and with a collar 34:. This collar acts as a piston and is made to snugly fit the interior of the valve casing. The shank of the valve member extends through the plug 28 and a spring 35 surrounds said shank and has its ends engaging the collar and the lower end of the plug. A look nut 36 is provided for locking the plug in adjusted position.

It will thus be seen that by adjusting the plug in the valve casing the tension on the spring'35 may be regulated so that the valve will open at different degrees of pressure in the receiver. The air pressure will act first on the small end of the valve member to force the said member upwardly and then the air will act against the collar and snap the valve member upwardly so that its upper end will strike the latch bar, raising the same out of engagement with the keeper plate and permitting the spring 22 to rock the lever 19 on its pivot and thus release the sprocket wheel from the key and sliding the latch bar into inoperative position. The

a surplus air will blow off through the holes 27 and then the spring will return the valve to its closed position.

When it is again desired to start up the compressor the'latch must be placed in en gagement with its keeper plate again. This may be done by any suitable means connected with said latch bar.

The invention is more particularly designed for use for supplying-air to a selfstarter for automobiles. This type of selfstarter supplies compressed air to the cylinders of the motor to start the same.-

When the invention is thus used the sprocket wheel would be connected with the front shaft of the engine by a chain or the like and the latch bar might be connected with the push rod used for admitting the 1 air to the motor so that said latch bar would reached, said means including a valve casing connected with the compressor, a valve therein having its stem adapted to engage with the latch bar when the valve is raised by the air pressure, a spring for controlling said valve and means for adjusting the pressure of said spring.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising an air compressor, an actuating shaft for the same, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted on said shaft and adapted to be connected with a source of power, clutch means for connecting the shaft with said wheel, a rock lever connected with said wheel, spring means for normally holding the wheel in inoperative position, a latch bar connected with said lever, a keeper plate for the latch bar, a valve casing connected with the compressor, avalve therein having its stem adapted to engage the latch bar when: the valve is raised by the air pres sure, spring means for controlling said valve and means for adjusting the spring means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GUY F. WOLFE. 

